General Do You Rate Elijah Taylor?

[mt.wellington]

******DISCLAIMER - Im a Taylor Fanboi!!!*****​

Theres been abit of discussion about Taylor with 2 very different opinions being banded about. This is a thread to not only discuss and share our views on Elijah but to also ponder re-signing him beyond next season.

Also, the issue of Taylor at hooker is interesting with again 2 camps split on Elliots choice to give him first dibs in the position over other options such as Thomas Leuluai, Alehana Mara, Pita Godinet and even Carlos Tuimavave.

Anyway, your honesty in the poll and opinion would be appreciated...

 

[Spence]

I voted "okay". I don't dislike him, but I don't think that he has any significant ability over Mannering or Lowrie (or any other NRL standard defensive backrower). As such I wouldn't go out of my way to include him in my team, as I don't see the need for three workhorse type backrowers in the pack.

As for his skills at hooker, I'm dubious but I'll reserve judgement until I see him play there.

 

[Vancent]

There is plenty to like about Elijah, spirit, attitude, discipline, tenacity, however ability at hooker is not one of them. He is 40-50 games away from 'ripe' (new phrase, am running with it.....). I see no reason why Alehana is not logical first choice. This said, is but a trial and a good place to test logic. Still, I'd use AM to continue the progression prior to kick off 2013.

 

[mt.wellington]

I honestly believe we will see Taylor at hooker not just in the 2 remaining trials but also round 1 vs the Eels. You can quote me on that...

 

[Sup42]

The Jury is Wavering.

I dunno , I really liked him when he debuted and figured in a few years he would be crack'n it.

As a Second rower I think it's smart to hold on to players like Taylor , he's a good replacement for the first stringers.

The hooker thing , meh Elliots sold on it , just have to hope it works out.

 

[wallacenz]

Im still not sure about Taylor. His biggest weakness, in my opinion, is what many consider his best asset, defence. He just seems to be weak in the tackle to me. He has no stopping power and struggles to put players on the ground which results in others having to assist and stretches our defence. Hes no Michael Luck.. yet

 

[Danpatmac]

Taylor has a fantastic demeanour and seems to be able to say all the right things, a future captain?

Problem for me is that he is a journeyman type player at this stage and certainly not guaranteed a spot in my best 17 for the club. Similarly with Benry, the club seems to be judging these young players on their personalities and less so on their performances. Taylor may have racked up the numbers, but his tackling last year was not overly impressive. He has not got much physical presence on D and is more of grabber ( Benry has more ability on D ). He also has taken quite a few wrong options on attack and several of these have directly lead to missed tries. The experiemnt at hooker is a mistake in my eyes and I would much rather we use a combo of Mara (who I feel has more potential) and Leuluai or even Godinet (yes he can't tackle, it's just a preference).

I think he is a good kid and may develop into a top player but i just don't see what he brings to the game at this stage that means he should be in ahead of an actual hooker. Added to the fact that I rate Henry as a better player than Taylor and when you look at the plethora of similar backrow options we have, Taylor wouldn't be in my 17.... now.

 

[drake83]

Yea hes ok but like everyone else has said he doesnt have any specific skills that set bim apart from the otber players we have at bis position.
Clearly the panthers love him, according to nrl gossip page he has all but signed with them for 2014 and that was posted only a couple of hours ago.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

He's ok at this point in time but I would much rather have him in the 2nd row. I really hate the idea of him at hooker but hey if I'm proven wrong that is a good thing because building depth here is important. I'm with Danpatmac in the sense that I see him as a back rower but to me he is up against it making my top 17 on match day unless injuries strike.

 

[Hitman82]

He's ok. At this stage I rate Ben Henry ahead of Elijah Taylor. I also rate Mannering and Lowrie ahead of him. So, if Friend was not injured I would see no place for Elijah in the team. Even then, in an ideal world we'd have more specialist hooker cover...

Taylor could develop and become a Mannering 2.0, but Mannering is young enough that we don't really need that... and Henry is more or less the same. Wouldn't cry if we lost Taylor to the Panthers.

I'd like Taylor more if he was 10kg heavier. At 93kg / 182cm he is my height and lighter than me, and I am too small to have an impact as an NRL forward... and lack the talent haha. A 103kg Taylor could be beastlike, as he does have ball skills which would be more useful if he could punch the line.

 

[Danpatmac]

He's ok at this point in time but I would much rather have him in the 2nd row. I really hate the idea of him at hooker but hey if I'm proven wrong that is a good thing because building depth here is important. I'm with Danpatmac in the sense that I see him as a back rower but to me he is up against it making my top 17 on match day unless injuries strike.

Exactly,

In ranking order (in my opinion) he sits behind: Mateo, Mannering, Lowrie, Henry in my preferred back row options.

As a hooker he is behind Friend, Mara, Leuluai, Godinet, Bishop, Havilli for me too.

 

[Defence]

Hmm I'm not to sure yet. Like others i think his defence is a little over rated- racks up the numbers but he's not a dominate tackler or tho that may come with time. I think he could become a handy ball player too- he's thrown some shocking balls which I think has hurt his confidence in this area but he does have pretty soft hands and it's another area I could see him improving in. No one can question his work ethic or attitude but tbh judging them purely as bacrowers I would rate ikahihifo ahead of both Taylor and benry so I won't be fussed if he's off to the panthers.
Now to him playing hooker- I'm not so sure they are picking him ahead of Mara as everyone keeps saying but u prob don't want Mara playing 80 at this stage so u need another option and if it's gonna be the two of them rotating I can see the sense in starting Taylor and bringing mara off the bench. I just hope Mara gets the majority of minutes, 50-60 would be good.

 

[Hitman82]

Now to him playing hooker- I'm not so sure they are picking him ahead of Mara as everyone keeps saying but u prob don't want Mara playing 80 at this stage so u need another option and if it's gonna be the two of them rotating I can see the sense in starting Taylor and bringing mara off the bench. I just hope Mara gets the majority of minutes, 50-60 would be good.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[mt.wellington]

Now to him playing hooker- I'm not so sure they are picking him ahead of Mara as everyone keeps saying but u prob don't want Mara playing 80 at this stage so u need another option and if it's gonna be the two of them rotating I can see the sense in starting Taylor and bringing mara off the bench. I just hope Mara gets the majority of minutes, 50-60 would be good.

I get the impression, well actually you can almost bet your house on it, Elliot has him as first choice hooker ahead of Mara. In the following clip Elliot gets asked a question by Sam Ackerman about Elijah Taylor at the 9:13 mark. Transcript below.

https://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Warri...clubs/tabid/317/articleID/286626/Default.aspx


Sam Ackerman - Elijah Taylor is getting a run at hooker. Do you see him in that role beyond Nathan Friends return?

Matt Elliot - I think Elijahs gonna be a top line player regardless of where he plays and I really feel that what he's demonstrated for us in hooker in just a really short period of time is quite exciting so I think the answer to that question we will know in 2 weeks time.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

I get the impression, well actually you can almost bet your house on it, Elliot has him as first choice hooker ahead of Mara. In the following clip Elliot gets asked a question by Sam Ackerman about Elijah Taylor at the 9:13 mark. Transcript below.

https://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Warri...clubs/tabid/317/articleID/286626/Default.aspx


Sam Ackerman - Elijah Taylor is getting a run at hooker. Do you see him in that role beyond Nathan Friends return?

Matt Elliot - I think Elijahs gonna be a top line player regardless of where he plays and I really feel that what he's demonstrated for us in hooker in just a really short period of time is quite exciting so I think the answer to that question we will know in 2 weeks time.

Very interesting. The guy was garbage in his stints there last season, as bad as Brown, so I will watch with interest as to what improvements he has made there.

 

[Gizzyfan]

One factor about Taylor at hooker that hasn't really been discussed here is the makeup of the bench with Taylor at hooker. With him as an 80 minute player can move back to 2nd row to cover Mateo, for instance, and bring an impact player on rather than a replacement e.g bench of Lillyman, Mara, Louisi, Henry. No word yet on a 3 or 4 prop rotation I take it.

 

[mt.wellington]

One factor about Taylor at hooker that hasn't really been discussed here is the makeup of the bench with Taylor at hooker. With him as an 80 minute player can move back to 2nd row to cover Mateo, for instance, and bring an impact player on rather than a replacement e.g bench of Lillyman, Mara, Louisi, Henry. No word yet on a 3 or 4 prop rotation I take it.

Thats why I first put his name out there for the hooker role (and was laughed at!). I hate having 2 hookers on the team with one simply subbing the other. One 80 minute hooker. Bench is 2 props, 1 2nd rower and 1 utility. Simple.

 

[ToiletDuck]

My main problem with players like Elijah, is the way that we tend to put them on a pedestal because they've come through our own system. Elliot comes out and says Elijah has got to be in our 13 somewhere, why? Which other team in the comp would have a similar view point re a player of his stature, maybe Penrith?

Speaking of which, NRL Gossip have said "Further to a rumour we posted earlier, it would seem Elijah Taylor is all but certain to sign with the Penrith Panthers and link up with former coach Ivan Cleary in 2014."

 

[jsmooove]

Voted based on potential ( i know potential is the scary word that means you still might amount to nothing). I am taking what happened last year as it didnt happen. Every player had a year off from rugby league and they are back ready to start.

with ET as other young players and how they develop comes down to our coaching staff. Has elliot seen something in him to suggest he is a future hooker? or has ET thought to himself that maybe our back row stocks are pretty full and he needs to develop other areas of his game for another position to get a spot in the 17. I am open minded to him at 9. i mean did you ever think mutts would ever become out best prop?

 

[mode81]

Elijah Taylor is steady as she comes I prefer him at loosie because he plays like a traditional loose forward, good work ethic, won't say he's 100% accurate with his tackling technique but he is a capable defender, he reminds me of Ashley Harrison in a way. For me personally when comparing youngsters like Taylor to others, I like explosive back rowers with a bit of attitude, guys like Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Aiden Guerra, Ryan James, Joel Edwards, Shaun Fensom, Jason Bukuya they play the bustling backrow game I like